Report and pics - Abhaya Simha (GA)
Mangalore, Jan 31: Nilgiri martens which are unique to Western Ghat region were sighted by amateur film-maker Abhaya Simha on Saturday January 27 afternoon.
A group of wildlife enthusiasts was on a trekking programme at Ashokavana in the Bisale Ghat area on Saturday when a 3 Niligiri martens were sighted. Abhaya Simha who had a video camera with him immediately filmed them.
Speaking to Daijiworld Abhaya Simha said that Niligiri martens (scientific name Martes Gwatkinsi) are unique to Western Ghats. However, rarely have they been sighted by anyone. Though locals say that they have spotted it in the dense forests of Western Ghats, only one photo of the same was with wildlife enthusiasts so far.
About Nilgiri marten: (from various sources)
It is the southern counterpart of the yellow- throated marten Martes flavigula of the Siwaliks and the Himalayas. It is endemic to the Western Ghats and known from south of 12° N (Coorg). It is a beautiful animal, unmistakable for its mostly black body with a stout tail, typical weasel like legs and a flat, pointed head. The throat is brightly coloured, ranging from pale yellow to bright orange. Its gait is weasel-like, while hopping on the ground and it seems very comfortable even on trees. It has been observed to traverse long distances on the canopy in undisturbed, dense and evergreen forests (personal observations). Moist and tropical rainforests are its preferred habitats (within an altitudinal range of 300-1200 m). It is mostly diurnal in its activity.
Nilgiri martens have been observed to hunt small vertebrates like mouse deer and Varanus (N. M. Ishwar, pers. comm. and personal observation). There is a report of them feeding on the nectar of Ceiba pentandra (silk cotton tree, Hutton 1944). In some areas of their distribution (as in Coorg), they are considered pests as they raid honey from boxes in farms (Ajith Kumar, pers. comm.). They are elegant animals about whom very little is known.
The species has been reported from various parts of the southern Western Ghats (Madhusudan 1995, Yoganand & Kumar 1995, Christopher & Jayson 1996, Gokula & Ramachandran 1996, Mudappa 1998).